Seven homes were broken into in one town.

Thieves raided the properties in Crawley in just one day (13).

Properties in Fountain Close, Covert Close, Buckswood Drive, Lismore Crescent, Downland Drive, Swaledale Close and Boundary Road were broken into where doors have been smashed.

In Fountain Close at around 9.20pm, someone has gained access to a property though the kitchen door and stolen cigarettes and a phone. The phone was later found left by the back gate.

The home owners returned to their home in Covert Close at 1.30pm to find the conservatory door had been smashed. It is not clear if anything has been stolen.

Jewellery was stolen from a house of Buckswood Drive between 6.10pm and 9.10pm, from a house in Lismore Crescent between 5pm and 7.20pm and from Waledale Close between 1.15pm and 6.10pm.

A property in Downland Drive was broken into at around 6.10pm but nothing was taken. Again nothing was stolen from a house broken into in Boundary Road between 2.30pm and 6pm.

District Commander Chief Inspector Justina Beeken said: "We are at the early stages of these enquiries into these burglaries and this stage are keeping an open mind about whether they are linked. No particular group of people seem to have been targeted but obviously has been distressing for all those who have had their properties broken into even if nothing has been stolen.

"We are urging people to keep a light on while they are out as the evening now they are getting darker. Also consider having a timer light which comes at certain time while you are out in the evening.”

If you saw anything suspicious call Sussex Police on 101.